Flap holding means for cartons



April 19, 1.949. s, K, SMART 2,467,702

FLAP HOLDING vMEANS FOR CARTONS Filed June s, 1948 Patented 'Api'. 19,1949 l FLAP HOLDING MEANS FOR CARTONS Sidney K. Smart, Agawam, Mass.,assgnor to Shinners Packaging Incorporated, Springfield, Mass., acorporation of Massachusetts Application June 3, 1948, Serial No. 30,932

1 Claim. l

This invention relates to an improved means for holding in closedposition a ap used in connection with the end closure of a carton orcardboard receptacle.

The invention, While Acapable of general application, iinds oneadvantageous use in connection with the so-called locking flap of theend closure of a cardboard receptacle or carton, such as is used forshipping various articles. Such a carton usually consists of a tubularbody of rectangular cross section, having closures one at each of twoopposite ends thereof and each consisting of two opposed end flapsfolded inwardly toward one another, a side iiap folded over the endflaps and having a tongue tucked into the carton, and a. locking flap,hinged to a side of the carton opposite to that to which the side flapis hinged and folded over the central portion of the side ilap-thelocking ap having a tongue to enter a slot provided in the hinge line ofthe side flap.

In practice, it has been found that the locking flaps of these cartonsoften become accidentally pulled out by catching on parts of otherpackages during handling in the mails. This type of locking flap hasgenerally been held in place solely by frictional engagement of itstongue with the walls of the tongue-receiving slot and with a portion ofthe side wall of the carton and the article contained therein.Consequently, a locking flap of this type is dislodged relativelyeasily.

This invention has for its object the provision in an end closure of theclass described of a hole in the locking llap, located in andintermediate the ends of the hinge line of its tongue, and a slot in thehinge line of the side flap so cut as to form a small projection, whichwill enter the hole, when the tongue of the locking flap is thrustthrough the slot, and hold the locking flap against accidentaldislodgement.

The invention will more particularly appear from the description of oneillustrative embodiment of it in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a carton, embodying the invention, shownwith one end closed and the other end open;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary lbottom plan view of the carton showing its openend;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the carton, shownwith the end flaps and side ap in closed position but before the lockingflap has been moved to locking position Fig. 4 is an end elevationalview of the closed carton; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken on the line5--5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to these drawings; the carton includes top and bottom walls Iand 2, respectively, and side walls 3 and 4, suitably connected togetherto form a tubular body of rectangular cross section open at oppositeends. For closing each end of the carton, end flaps 5 and 6 areprovided,

respectively hinged at one end to the ends of side walls 3 and 4 andadapted to be folded inwardly toward one another and at right angle tosuch walls. To complete each end closure a side ilap 'I is hinged at oneend along a fold line 8 to an end of top wall I. At its other end theflap has a tongue 9 hingedly connected to it along the fold line I0. Theside flap 'I is adapted to be folded over the end flaps 5 and 6 and atright angles to walls I and 2 and its tongue 9 is adapted to be insertedinto the carton to lie contiguous with the inner face of the bottom wall2. Each end closure also includes a. so-called locking flap I I, hingedat one end along the fold line I2 to one end of bottom wall 2 and havingconnected to its other end along the fold line I3 a tongue I4. Thelocking ap is of less width than the side flap 'I and is adapted to befolded over upon it in parallel and contiguous relation. The tongue I4is adapted to be inserted into the carton through a slot I5 formed inthe fold line 8.

'I'his invention provides in a carton, such as described., a means, inaddition to the frictional engagement above described, for holding thelocking flap, such as II, and its tongue I4 against accidentaldislodgement. The slot I5, instead of being straight from end to end ashas been usual heretofore, is formed at at least one point intermediateits ends with an inward deection or offset, whereby there is formed onthe side flap 'I a small projection I 6 which extends slightly beyondits hinge line 8. When flap 'I is folded along the hinge line 8 intoclosed position, the projection I 6 will upstand as shown in Figs. 3 and4 above such hinge line. The locking flap is provided with a hole I1,extending through it at a point in the hinge line I3 intermediate theends thereof. When the flap II is folded over against the side flap 'Iand the tongue I4 is thrust through slot I5 as far as possible into thecarton, the projection I6 will snap into hole I1 and, by engagA ing apart of the wall of the hole, prevent the4 locking flap and its. tonguefrom being easily dislodged. It will be clear from Fig. 4, that the'projection I6 is very small and does not project above the top Wall ofthe carton so that it can be engaged and damaged. As a matter of fact,

the size of the projection has been somewhat exaggerated in order toclearly show it. 'I'he projection actually does not need to projectthrough the hole I1 or beyond it but merely into it enough to hold theap il against accidental pulling out.

It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the sizeand shapeof the projection I6 and the size and shape of hole l1 may be variedwithin substantial limits without departing from the principle-of theinvention. Also there may be more than one of these locking projectionson each side flap and more than one hole in each locking ap, ifnecessary due to the size of the carton and the Weight of its contentsto provide additional resistance to pulling out of the locking flap.

I claim:

The combination in a carton. of a flap for closing one end thereof andfoldably connected along a line of fold to one Wall of the carton, saidap having foldably connected to its other end a tongue for insertioninto the carton to lie against 4 the inner face of the opposite wall,said flap provided with a slot extending part way along said line offold and having intermediate its ends an oiset forming a projectionwhich upstands from said iiap above said line of fold when the nap is inclosed position. and a locking ap foldably connected at one end along aline of fold to an opposite wall of the carton and having Ioldablyconnected to its other end along a line of fold a tongue, the lockingiiap adapted to be folded over uponv the first ap and its tongue beingadapted for insertion through said slot into the carton, said locking aphaving a hole therethrough which is located in and intermediate the endsof -the third-named line of fold and which is adapted to receive saidprojection, the latter engaging a part of the wall of said hole andholding the tongue of said locking flap against easy dislodgement.

SIDNEY K. SMART.

No references cited.

